Registered Dietitian
Salary

Most Registered Dietitians in the United States are women. The workforce as a whole earns a median of approximately $49K per year. Pay ranges from $39K on the low end to $71K per year on the high end. While years of experience and the particular employer impact pay for this group, geographic location is the most influential factor. Job satisfaction is reported as high by the vast majority of workers. Health benefits are not enjoyed by everyone in this line of work, and nearly one-fourth lack any coverage at all. Medical benefits are reported by a fair number and dental coverage is claimed by the larger part. The figures in this overview were provided by individuals who took PayScale's salary questionnaire.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

Job Description for Registered Dietitian

Registered dietitians usually work in a hospital or a care facility such as a nursing home or a rehabilitation center. However, they may also privately consult clientele independently. Regardless of their place of employment, they work to assess their patients'/clients' nutritional needs and to create care plans that are tailored to each person's ongoing dietary needs and goals. Registered dietitians also routinely monitor their patients'/clients' basic vital signs and keep track of their body mass indexes (BMIs) and other related measurements.

A bachelor's degree in nutrition is the minimum educational requirement for registered dietitians. In addition, registered dietitians are also required to obtain a license from their respective state in order to work in that state. (Each state will have its own requirements related to the license required for a registered dietitian.) Communication and people skills, organization and planning are essential for registered dietitians. Registered dietitians must also have a moderate degree of computer literacy. Additional language skills are also desirable and in high demand. Certification or other related work experience with women, infants and children (WIC) may be preferred by some employers. Registered dietitians commonly work somewhat normal business or daytime hours, although some are required to work nights, evenings or weekends.

Common Career Paths for Registered Dietitian

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Compensation may increase greatly for Registered Dietitians who advance to upper-end positions like Physician Assistant. Median pay for Physician Assistants is $82K per year. Registered Dietitians most frequently become Dietitian or Nutritionists and Licensed Dietitians even though median compensation is $5K lower and $2K lower, respectively.

Dietitian Job Listings

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Popular Employer Salaries for Registered Dietitian

Many Registered Dietitians can be found at DaVita Inc., Sodexo, Inc., Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., Healthcare Services Group, Inc., and Morrison Healthcare, firms that are at the top of the field. Pay for Registered Dietitians is best at DaVita Inc., which offers a median salary of $58K. However, the highest reported salaries don't seem to be much higher than the lowest ones; the pay range here runs from $45K to $70K.

The lowest salaries can be found at Sodexo, Inc. — median pay is $47K — and there is little variation in compensation, with paychecks starting at $42K and only reaching $57K.

Popular Skills for Registered Dietitian

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Overall, survey participants reported applying a fair number of skills to their work. Most notably, skills in Eating Disorders, Renal, Long Term Care, and Diabetes Educator are correlated to pay that is above average, with boosts between 7 percent and 10 percent. Most people skilled in Counseling are similarly competent in Patient Education and Nutrition Support.

Pay by Experience Level for Registered Dietitian

Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.

For many Registered Dietitians, extensive experience does not lead to significantly more money. Respondents with less than five years' experience take home $47K on average. In contrast, those who have been around for five to 10 years earn a noticeably higher average of $53K. Registered Dietitians claiming one to two decades of experience make an estimated median of $58K. Individuals who report more than two decades of experience seem to make only slightly more than folks in the 10-to-20 year range; the more senior group sees median earnings in the comparatively modest ballpark of $61K.

Pay Difference by Location

With a pay rate for Registered Dietitians that is 24 percent greater than the national average, Los Angeles offers a comfortable salary for those in this profession. Registered Dietitians will also find cushy salaries in New York (+17 percent), San Diego (+12 percent), Nashville (+5 percent), and Philadelphia (+5 percent). Indianapolis is home to the smallest salaries in the field, lagging the national average by 16 percent. A couple other locations with smaller-than-average paychecks include Phoenix (7 percent lower) and Rochester (6 percent lower).

Registered Dietitian Reviews

What is it like working as a Registered Dietitian?

Registered Dietitian in Medford:

"Rewarding."

Pros: I love being able to help people who want to help themselves. Community outreach is one of my favorite parts of my job, reaching out to all types of populations and adjusting education based on their individual needs.

Cons: Nutrition and dietetics is a under-recognized field. It is new and growing.